Independent School Libraries: Perspectives on Excellence

Freed of many of the governing laws that shape public shools, librarians in independent schools have more opportunity to develop new ideas and methods, Among these are the "information commons" where technology, media services, and traditional library services intersect, providing students with the resources they need to do their best work. what other learnings do these library laboratories provide?

Independent school Libraries Perspectives on Excellence offers readers insights into best practices in library services for school communities, using examples drawn from independent schools of various sizes, descriptions, and locations across the United States, Two overview essays introduce a statistical analysis of independent schools. Each of the remaining essays provides perspective on a different aspect of library practice, indluding staffing, advocacy, assessment, technology, collaboration, programs beyond the curriculum, intellectual freedom and privacy, budgeting, accreditation, disaster planning, and more.

Because independent school librarians work without the same mandates to adhere to state and national laws and standards as their public school colleagues, they have unique opportunities to explore and refine new practices. These ideas and methods, many of which are on display here, can be applied in any school library setting.

Dorcas Hand is director of libraries at the Annunciation Orthodox School in Houston, TX.